Biljarda

Biljarda (Serbian and Montenegrin Cyrillic: Биљарда) is a (former) royal residence in Cetinje, the historic capital of Montenegro.

Prince-Bishop Petar II Petrović-Njegoš started the building of the palace on 29 March 1838.

Designed by the Russian Lieutenant Colonel Jakov Nikolaevich Ozeretskovsky, the Biljarda palace has the appearance of a medieval fortified feudal castle: a rectangular two-storied stone building, covered with lead, enclosed by a high stone wall with four defensive towers on the corners.

The palace was not only the home of the prince-bishop, but also provided accommodation to the Senate and other state authorities as well as being a guest house for important visitors.

The palace served as a royal residence for Danilo I, Prince of Montenegro and his wife, Princess Darinka until 1860, for his nephew Nicholas I until 1867, when the Montenegrin royal family moved to King Nikola's Palace, previously designed to be home for Darinka, Princess Dowager of Montenegro and her daughter, Princess Olga.